Genesis 5 is full of a lot of big numbers and a lot of dying.
Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died. (5:5)
Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died. (5:8)
Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died. (5:11)
You get the idea. Genesis 5 documents extraordinarily long lives, but over and over again throughout the chapter, we end up with the same three words–“and he died.”
Then, all of a sudden, we encounter Genesis 5:21-22 like a speed bump. We’re made to slow down as something else is highlighted. In the midst of a lot of big numbers and a whole lot of dying, we’re invited to see and appreciate something truly special.
When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God… (5:21-22)
Enoch didn’t just “live,” and he certainly didn’t just “die.” Enoch “walked with God.” What an extraordinary phrase, worth thinking about today.
In order to “walk with” someone, the two of you have to be heading in the same direction. If you’re heading in opposite directions, you may occasionally “walk by” them, but your interaction will be brief and superficial at best. Disciples of Jesus don’t “walk by” God for an hour on Sunday mornings. We “walk with” God on Mondays.
In order to “walk with” someone, you have to maintain the same pace, otherwise you won’t be traveling together long. There’s a reason we sing as a periodic, much-needed reminder, “In His Time.” God’s timing isn’t always our timing. Sometimes we would rather lag behind, procrastinate, or stop pushing ourselves altogether. One of the blessings of our Sunday assemblies is having our hearts “stirred up” for love and good works on Monday. Sunday worship fuels Monday walking. On the flip side, many of us would rather impatiently run in front of God, especially when we feel like he’s lagging behind. If that’s you today, Psalm 130:5 is probably worth tucking in your pocket for the week: “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.” In the words of Dianne Ball’s powerful hymn:
In His time, in His time,
He makes all things beautiful, in His time.
Lord, please show me every day,
As You’re teaching me Your way,
That You do just what You say, in Your time.
Of the two of us, my infinitely-wise Creator deserves to set the pace.
“Walk with” someone long enough, and you’ll reach the same destination. Turn when they turn, pause when they pause, climb when they climb, and you’ll end up at the same place. You will have been “fellows” along the path.
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-7)
Did you catch the “if”? “If we walk in the light…” Mondays are good days to look in the mirror. Am I heading in the same direction as God today? Direction determines destination. Am I heaven-bound?
Enoch walked with God. What great footsteps to follow in this week…
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God? (Mic 6:8)